Women, Capoeira and Feminism
I have been meaning to write this blog for a long time. It is massively overdue and out of date. Vitoria and I went to Nzinga’s event Chamada de Mulher back in August (it was a great event). I promised I was going to write something about women, feminism and Capoeira and why I thought those things go together — so rather than just give up I am doing it late. It is particularly important as I am involved in leading a Capoeira group so have a role to play……….
I have been wondering why it’s taken me so long to write. I think partly because I knew that some of the things I wanted to write are a bit sensitive, personal and can be easily misunderstood. I have also had personal experience and seen lots of discrimination and misogyny in Capoeira. So deep down I if I dont write this blog maybe I am passively supporting them — which I dont want to be the case. I am going to keep this text super simple to emphasize the point…….
So why do Feminism and Capoeira go together:
Capoeira, like most of society, has a gender equality problem: Women earn 50% less than men and work on average almost twice more hours. 1 in 20 of all women in the world will suffer gender based violence. It stands to reason and that Capoeira reflects these wider trends. Some capoeiristas are misogynist — they discriminate and mistreat women…
Discrimination is crap for women but also for men including in Capoeira; we like to think of gender as a opposition. If men get more women get less ecetera. Its not like that. There is pretty good proof that in a discriminatory world we all do worse. Do we really think the men that mistreat women in Capoeira get an advantage in the long-term. Are they happier, more fulfilled and confident. I dont think they are — they often end up insecure with a false sense of entitlement and recognition..
Capoeira and oppression don’t fit together: Capoeira has its roots in African traditions and in Africans. It does have other influences but the African ones are at its core. Africans that had to fight and flee to be free. Misogyny and gender inequality are about oppression. Capoeira and oppression they just dont go.
Tradition is no excuse: I often hear that the problems with discrimination of women in Capoeira simply reflect traditional practices and as such are forgivable. A few things to reflect on that. First, there are lots of very traditional masters that dont promote or condone discrimination. Second, we know traditions can be modeled, influenced and tweaked. What better opportunity than to do it for a good reason. Third, we have lots of examples of traditions including those from the afro-brazilan pantheon that have challenged gender inequality a lot — most notably Candomble..
Feminism isnt white: There is a perception that feminism and the feminist movement is by nature white and often racist. Feminists are sometimes racist but for me that is not a reason to leave feminism to them. I don’t want to abandon my black son’s, my black nieces to a misogynist world. Feminism and anti-racism are not in competition in my head.
We can do better — no in fact we can do great!: Finally, the obvious. Events like Chamada de Mulher and Capoeira groups all over the world are showing we can do better and a make capoeira a misogynist free zone. Its not always easy, it takes effort and some investment in learning new behaviors and ways of doing things but its possible!
What do you think?
